New Atlantic Wave group of artists from North Devon making waves in London

The tide is up for a collection of artists from the New Atlantic Wave movement from North Devon who have been invited to exhibit for the first time this year at the Battersea Affordable Art Fair in London, from 19-22 October.

The five members including international ceramicist Sandy Brown, established printmaker Merlyn Chesterman RE and emerging artists Rachel Stanton, Lesley Anne Cornish and NQ Fine Art & Illustration who will be exhibiting their works at the fair in the ‘Art Upstairs’ gallery (L7 Stand). Rachel Stanton’s Expansive was also picked out for the ‘Budget Friendly under £500’ wall at the entrance tunnel to the Fair.

The vibrant Autumn edition of the Art Fair will see an exhibition of over 1,000 contemporary pieces or original artwork from around the world, and the chance for collectors to add to their collections between a budget of £50 – £7,500.

The invitation to exhibit at the Affordable Art Fair is a coup for the North Devon collective of around 130 local artists and makers which has been established for two years.

The Art Fair will allow the New Atlantic Wave to 'get seen’ in a way that could only have been a pipe dream in the early days of their existence.

Founder of the not-for-profit Community Interest Company ArtMakers Phil Parker explained: "ArtMakers was set up just two years ago when we realised that there was a massive gap in our rural communities as creative industries and sole traders especially missed out on opportunities due to a lack of access to funds. Quite simply, great artistic talent was being missed."

"We are very excited to have been invited to exhibit at the Affordable Art Fair. It’s such an immense achievement for the group. It’s a huge step up for regional artists and makers."

The artists, labelled 'the Collective’ by the Art Fair at Battersea have had a busy two years exhibiting at its gallery in Bridgeland Street in Bideford as well as raising their profile taking part in the local Appledore Book Festival and offering workshops at the National Trust property Arlington Court.